Meeting between Venezuelan and ABC Islands canceled

WILLEMSTAD - The meeting that was supposed to take place between Venezuela and the ABC Islands today did not continue. That was the message from the Prime Minister of Aruba, Evelyn Wever-Croes. This was reported by the Aruban news site NoticiaCla.com.

While the cancelation was confirmed, there was no reason given. The meeting today was supposed to bring an end to the impasse between Venezuela and the ABC Islands and open the borders again for commercial traffic.

In a conversation with the Venezuelan Consul in Curaçao, it did not become clear why Venezuela canceled the meeting.

Yesterday, Venezuela announced that they will extend the border closure for an indefinite time. Maduro closed the border a week and a half ago. According to him, people illegally go to the ABC islands, but also drugs, weapons and minerals are smuggled. Since then, the president extended the blockade several times with three days.

Negotiations between representatives of the islands, the Netherlands and Venezuela have not yet led to a solution. The delegations reached an agreement last week Friday to open the borders, according to the Curaçao government, but for a final deal, Maduro’s signature is needed.